14:10 Turffontein

Saturday 1 February 2025

All10:0010:3511:1011:4512:2012:5513:3514:1014:4515:20

www.tab4racing.com Middle Stakes

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 1m 7.72s

(9)

Mercantour¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Stuart Pettigrew| CD

10/1

4-time course winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2023. Fourth of 6 in minor event (25/2) at Vaal (7.4f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 64263-4

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Minogue³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Craig Zackey| T: Candice Dawson

14/1

33/1, respectable 5¾ lengths fourth of 8 to Double Grand Slam in Gr 3 at Greyville (7f, good to soft). Off 10 months. First run for yard after leaving W. Whitehead. Difficult ask.

Form: 151/914-

(11)

One Fell Swoop^b⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lerena| T: Tony Peter| CD

8/1

4-time course winner. 7/1, excellent 3¾ lengths fourth of 9 to Passage of Power in minor event at Vaal (5.5f, good) 42 days ago.

Form: 140804-

(4)

Nettleton^b³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Strydom| T: Johan J Vuuren| CD

9/4

4-time course winner. Seven wins from 17 Flat runs. Four wins from 10 runs last year. Good short-head second of 9 to Pistol Pete in Gr 3 (7/1) at this course (5f, soft) 35 days ago. The one to beat.

Form: 421112-

(6)

Silver Tudor²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Diego De Gouveia| T: Sean Tarry| CD

11/2

3-time C&D winner. Latest win here in November. Sixth of 9 in handicap (7/2) at this course (7f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 23514-6

(1)

Passage Of Power⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Rachel Venniker⁽³⁾| T: Fabian Habib| CD

11/4

C&D winner. Career best when winning 9-runner minor event at Vaal (5.5f, good, 28/10) 42 days ago.

Form: 283011-

(3)

Richard The First^b⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ryan Munger| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| D

11/2

25/1, good fourth of 8 in minor event at this course (7f, good) 6 days ago.

Form: 96437-4

(8)

Francilien⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Kaidan Brewer| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| D

12/1

Two wins from 5 runs last year. Latest win at Vaal in October. Respectable fourth of 9 in handicap (7/1) at Vaal (7.2f, good) 51 days ago.

Form: 21144-

(10)

Open Highway¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| C| D

20/1

Course winner. Three wins from 16 runs last year. 33/1, sixth of 8 in handicap at Vaal (6f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 49000-6

Non-Runners

(5)

Tsar Bomba¹⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: Johan J Vuuren J: M Yeni

(2)

Ensuing²

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: Johan J Vuuren J: L Nhlapo

Forecasts

Nettleton (9/4), Passage Of Power (11/4), Silver Tudor (11/2), Richard The First (11/2), One Fell Swoop (8/1), Tsar Bomba (8/1), Mercantour (10/1), Francilien (12/1), Minogue (14/1), Ensuing (16/1), Open Highway (20/1)

NETTLETON has sound claims on form and is a straightforward pick. Francilien is preferred for the forecast, while Passage Of Power also seems unlikely to be far away.